what does the mississippi attorney general do

by Pierce Konopelski 5 min read

The Attorney General is the chief legal officer and advisor for the State of Mississippi on both civil and criminal matters. Her responsibility is to represent public officials and governmental agencies and to issue legal opinions that interpret state law.

What does the Mississippi State Attorney's Office do?

The Attorney General is the chief legal officer and advisor for the State of Mississippi on both civil and criminal matters. Her responsibility is to represent public officials and governmental agencies and to issue legal opinions that interpret state law. The Attorney General has the sole power under Mississippi law to bring or defend a lawsuit on behalf of the state.

What are the powers and responsibilities of Attorneys General?

The Attorney General is the chief legal officer and advisor for the State of Mississippi on both civil and criminal matters. Her responsibility is to represent public officials and government agencies and to issue legal opinions that interpret State law. The Attorney General has the sole power under Mississippi law to bring or defend a lawsuit on behalf of the State.

What are the duties of a state attorney?

Apr 05, 2015 · The Mississippi Attorney General is a legal and administrative position undertaken by the appointed individual serving as the primary attorney – or Mississippi lawyers – on behalf of the State of Mississippi. While the Attorney General Mississippi undertakes a vast array of duties and responsibilities, amongst the foremost of their responsibilities is to serve the collective …

What are the qualifications to be an attorney general?

To watch a highlight video from the Empower Women Promote Life rally, click below. AG Fitch is leading a bipartisan coalition of State AGs to oppose the American Law Institute's efforts to weaken laws on sexual assault, human trafficking, and sex offender registration. Thank you to everyone who rallied, watched, and prayed leading up to and on ...

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What is the main purpose of the attorney general?

Attorneys general are the top legal officers of their state or territory. They advise and represent their legislature and state agencies and act as the “People's Lawyer” for the citizens. Most are elected, though a few are appointed by the governor.

What are the powers of the US Attorney General?

As the chief officer of the Department of Justice, the attorney general enforces federal laws, provides legal counsel in federal cases, interprets the laws that govern executive departments, heads federal jails and penal institutions, and examines alleged violations of federal laws.

How much does the Mississippi attorney general make?

State executive salaries
Office and current officialSalary
Attorney General of Mississippi Lynn Fitch$90,000
Mississippi Secretary of State Michael D. Watson Jr.
Chief of Staff to the Governor of Mississippi Parker Briden
Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance Mike Chaney$90,000
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Who is the state attorney for Mississippi?

Attorney General of Mississippi
Seal of the Attorney General
Incumbent Lynn Fitch since January 14, 2020
Term length4 years
First holderLyman Harding

Who can remove the attorney general?

the President
He can be removed by the President at any time. He can quit by submitting his resignation only to the President. Since he is appointed by the President on the advice of the Council of Ministers, conventionally he is removed when the council is dissolved or replaced.

How many statutory responsibilities do US attorneys have?

three statutory responsibilities
The United States Attorneys have three statutory responsibilities under Title 28, Section 547 of the United States Code: the prosecution of criminal cases brought by the Federal Government; the prosecution and defense of civil cases in which the United States is a party; and.Sep 22, 2016

How much does a Mississippi congressman make?

between $40,000 and $50,000 a year
Although most Mississippi lawmakers make between $40,000 and $50,000 a year, some lawmakers' total compensation is around $70,000 a year.Feb 8, 2022

What is the term limit for the governor of MS?

List of governors of Mississippi
Governor of Mississippi
Term lengthFour years, renewable once
Inaugural holderDavid Holmes
FormationConstitution of Mississippi
SuccessionEvery four years, unless reelected
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When did Governor Tate Reeves take office?

Tate Reeves
Assumed office January 14, 2020
LieutenantDelbert Hosemann
Preceded byPhil Bryant
32nd Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi
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What's the difference between attorney and lawyer?

For example in the US, an attorney is a general term for a lawyer that has passed a bar examination and can practice law in a particular jurisdiction. Attorneys act as lawyers but not all lawyers can perform the work of attorneys.Oct 22, 2021

Is Lynn Fitch an attorney?

Lynn Fitch (born October 5, 1961) is an American lawyer, politician, and the 40th Mississippi Attorney General. She is the first woman to serve in the role and the first Republican since 1878. Previously, she was the 54th State Treasurer of Mississippi from 2012 to 2020. Holly Springs, Mississippi, U.S.

What is a solicitor general in Mississippi?

Scott G. Stewart

Stewart as Solicitor General for the State of Mississippi. In that role, he is the State's lead advocate for appellate litigation. He directly handles appeals for the State, oversees the State's appellate litigation and strategy, and facilitates the State's involvement in amicus curiae briefs.

What is the job of the Attorney General of Mississippi?

The attorney general serves as the chief legal officer and advisor for Mississippi. He is responsible for advising on both civil and criminal legal matters. The officeholder is aided by a staff of attorneys, investigators, and office personnel.

Who is responsible for campaign finance in Mississippi?

The Attorney General of Mississippi is responsible for all prosecution of the state's campaign finance laws. This is regardless if it involves civil or criminal laws. The first step in filing any complaint is to file with the attorney general.

What is the Sunshine Act of 2012?

The Sunshine Law, which went into effect July 1, 2012, requires the attorney general to appoint outside counsel to represent a state agency or elected official in the event that the attorney general either refuses or is in conflict with the agency or official. The new law took away the attorney general's power to bring suits unilaterally on behalf of a state agency or elected official. Instead, an agency or elected official is given seven working days to object and seek out alternate counsel, subject to approval by a commission comprised of the governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of state. Once an objection is made, the attorney general cannot go on to represent the associated agency or official. In addition, the law limits the share of a verdict that goes to private lawyers hired on contingency, capping payments at $50 million in most cases.

When was Jim Hood elected?

There was a regularly scheduled election for attorney general in 2015. Jim Hood (D) was eligible for re-election. The primary election occurred on August 4, 2015, with the general election on November 3, 2015.

Who was the first attorney general of Mississippi?

The appointment of the Attorney General Mississippi takes place through a statewide election; the first Mississippi Attorney General was Lyman Harding, who served from 1818 to 1820.

What is the criminal division?

The Criminal Division is responsible for the regulation and oversight of the Crime Prevention and Victim's Services Division, Public Integrity Division, Insurance Fraud Unit, Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement Unit, and the Medicaid Fraud Division.

What is the Consumer Protection Division?

Consumer Protection Division is responsible for the regulation and oversight of the Vulnerable Adults Unit, Consumer Advocacy Division, and the Consumer Protections Bureau. The Criminal Division is responsible for the regulation and oversight of the Crime Prevention and Victim's Services Division, Public Integrity Division, Insurance Fraud Unit, ...

Meet Attorney General Lynn Fitch

Lynn Fitch is Mississippi’s 40th Attorney General and first ever woman Attorney General.

Sign up for our newsletter

To keep up with what’s going on at the Attorney General’s Office, sign up for General Fitch’s biweekly newsletter.

Mississippi Attorney General Contact Information

Address, Phone Number, and Hours for Mississippi Attorney General, an Attorney General, at High Street, Jackson MS.

Map of Mississippi Attorney General in Jackson, Mississippi

View map of Mississippi Attorney General, and get driving directions from your location .

About the Mississippi Attorney General

The Mississippi Attorney General, located in Jackson, MS, acts as the chief legal officers in the Hinds County area. At the state level, the Mississippi State Attorney General acts as the legal counsel for the legislature and state agencies.

What is the role of an attorney general?

As chief legal officers of the states, commonwealths, District of Columbia, and territories of the United States, the role of an attorney general is to serve as counselor to state government agencies and legislatures, and as a representative of the public interest.

What is the role of a public advocate?

Issuing formal opinions to state agencies. Acting as public advocates in areas such as child support enforcement, consumer protections, antitrust and utility regulation. Proposing legislation. Enforcing federal and state environmental laws. Representing the state and state agencies before the state and federal courts.

What is the People's Lawyer podcast?

The People’s Lawyer is a biweekly podcast from NAAG that explores the role of state and territory attorneys general as chief legal officers and their work protecting the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution.

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Current Officeholder

Authority

Qualifications

  • Article 6, Section 154 of the Mississippi Constitutionestablishes the qualifications of the judges circuit and chancery courts and also applies to the office of attorney general): 1. a practicing lawyer for five years 2. at least 26 years old 3. a resident of Mississippi for at least five years Article VI, Section 154:
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Elections

  • The attorney general is elected every four years, in the odd-numbered years before a presidential election. The attorney general is elected in 2015, 2019, 2023, and 2027.
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Vacancies

  • Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that details the process of filling vacancies for a state executive office. That information for the Mississippi Attorney General has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional informatio…
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Duties

  • The attorney general serves as the chief legal officer and advisor for Mississippi. He is responsible for advising on both civil and criminal legal matters. The officeholder is aided by a staff of attorneys, investigators, and office personnel. Other duties of the office include: 1. represent public officials and government agencies 2. issue legal ...
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Historical Officeholders

  • Summary of officeholders. Since 1818, Mississippi has had 39 officeholders. Click "show"for former officeholders.
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Recent News

  • The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Mississippi Attorney General.These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
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Contact Information

  • Mailing address: MS Attorney General's Office P.O. Box 220 Jackson, MS 39205 Street address: MS Attorney General's Office 550 High Street Jackson, MS 39201 Phone:601-359-3680
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See Also